Another week gone!

This, in some ways, has been a much quieter week – and in others not! The noisiest part of the week was Thursday night’s thunderstorm. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything like it – the lunch time storm left me feeling very light headed, and the evening one had the windows rattling in their frames. I think it must be a cloud burst sometimes, as the very heavy rain lasts for 10-15 minutes, and then it either eases off or stops all together. Today, however, has definitely been wet – in most of the places I have been! It was like driving through fog – you couldn’t even see the road surface at times. The problem with such rain is that there is no drainage system, so the roads become ponds or rivers, and in some places, like the townships where there are no properly surfaced roads, very muddy. Even on the better roads there are many potholes and you can’t measure the depth because each downpour makes them even deeper.

Wednesday was Ash Wednesday and we had a 6pm service at Jouberton. I checked last year’s numbers and there seem to have been about 80 communicants. This year there were around 140, including +Steve and his family. That’s the second time he’s turned up unannounced, just to be there. I’d decided to do it a bit differently from what the book lays down – trust the Bishop to turn up!! It seemed to go OK though. And then he waited to escort me onto the main road. He seems to think that it is safe to drive in the townships these days, but as I said to him, “There speaks a black man to a white woman!” I do wonder if I am over-reacting, but others have told me to be very careful: so I’m operating a ‘better safe than sorry’ policy.

Thursday evening gave me another insight into life here. At 6pm all the power suddenly ceased, and an investigation of the fuse box showed that we were ‘Load sharing’ – ie we had no power so that others could have some! It didn’t come on again till 10pm, so we went to bed with no evening meal, no cup of coffee, no lights, etc, etc, etc. Mpho, my host, said that the local authority owes the power company so much money that they do what they like, when they like, and with no warning.

Saturday, it was the Diocesan Council, a quarterly meeting for clergy and churchwardens. (Diocesan Synod takes place at 3 yearly intervals, and is residential.) We started with a Eucharist at 09.00, followed by breakfast. The meeting proper began at 11.00, and included such riveting things as End of Year accounts and clergy salaries. I felt somewhat uncomfortable at the latter. The South African miners are currently striking for a pay rise to R12,000 per month. The clergy get less than that – and when there are just over R17 to the £, that is not a lot! There was also much grateful mention of Lichfield Diocese and what it has given by way of financial support

Elizabeth and Maisie

Meeting over I drove to Lichtenburg through the torrential rain. I stayed with an 84 year old lady called Maisie, whose parents came here from Glasgow and Dundee after the Boer War in search of work. Her children now live in Australia, the UK and Jo’burg. She has recently been diagnosed with leukemia. In order for her to keep her hospital appointments her daughter has to drive here from Jo’burg, then drive to Pretoria via Jo’burg – and then do the journey in reverse to get them both home. As I signed her Visitors Book I noticed that Philip Swan also stayed with her in 2011!

The Church at Lichtenburg



The church at Lichtenburg



Today, Sunday, I preached at the Eucharist, to a small but faithful congregation; did a funeral visit with Elizabeth and then had lunch with her family. She was one of the first group of three women ordained in the Diocese and is self supporting. She ministers in Lichtenburg, but lives in the township outside the town, and uses the local taxis (minibuses) or depends on lifts to get round. At 68 that’s no mean feat!

Tomorrow I’m off on my travels for a week or so. First it’s a local game resort – Bona Bona (see it’s website) – for 4 nights, and then visiting two parts of the Diocese I’ve not really seen before. The first is Delareyville, where Marshall Guma, who stayed in Clayton 10 years ago, is the Incumbent and Archdeacon, and then into the deep south, Bloemhof. What internet access will be like in these places I have no idea – so don’t be surprised / alarmed if you don’t hear from me for a couple of weeks.

May your Lent go well!